Bumpy rides open the 2016 Hurley Pro at Trestles

September 9, 2016 |Surfing

The first day of competition of the 2016 Hurley Pro at Trestles provided several surprises and a few upsets. Despite the onshore winds, the bumpy four-to-six foot waves on offer delivered plenty of opportunities, including a Perfect 10.

Tanner Gudauskas had a day to remember. Not only he sent Matt Wilkinson and Rookie Conner Coffin to Round 2 in a combination situation, but he also scored the first perfect ride of the event.

"That was a really fun ride, and I almost went on the one two waves before thinking it looked pretty good but just didn't look smooth. I was thinking that when I get a wave, I hope I can stay on my surfboard. I've never felt this fired up and focused, and I want to prove that I deserve to be here," explained Gudauskas, who represents the San Clemente surfing community.

A few moments later, John John Florence showed his knee injury is not a major issue and unloaded his powerful tail slides on the choppy walls of Lower Trestles.

"It feels great to come in here at No. 1, but I'm just surfing it like any other heat really, and it's just so cool to be at Lowers with no one out after the last few days have been packed. My knee feels great, and I'm at one-hundred percent," added Florence.

Filipe Toledo managed to beat Kelly Slater and Jeremy Flores with a last-minute effort. The Brazilian used his fast lip approaches to apply critical turns on the wave and move through to Round 3.

"The rights are swinging pretty wide and going really fast, so it was good for the power carve and to work the rail game. I just stuck with that plan, and it all worked out in the last few minutes," concluded Toledo.

Gabriel Medina had a no-priority interference but still won his heat. Joel Parkinson had the highest two-wave total of the day; Wiggolly Dantas sent Adriano de Souza to the repechage round.